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Thanks to Our Past President, Heather Nathans

At ASTR’s annual meeting this past Saturday, Heather Nathans completed an impressive three-year term as President. As current and outgoing Officers and Executive Committee members, we want to acknowledge Heather’s extraordinary service publicly and thank her for leading us through a particularly eventful time in ASTR’s history.

When Heather agreed to run for President, we suspect she had no idea that her term would coincide with Nancy Erickson’s departure and the search for a new Executive management team. Yet, without hesitating, Heather helped the organization move through this transition purposefully and thoughtfully, and Ewald's exceptional work is testimony to Heather’s skill in finding ASTR a collaborative team that supports its mission.

There are many other projects Heather helped the Officers and Executive Committee pursue during her presidency. Just a few of these include changes to the selection of conference planners that have resulted in a more inclusive and transparent process; the Tell Me booths, which among other things, led to creating a contingent faculty membership category that recognizes and supports the diversity of ASTR’s membership; and new initiatives involving mentorship and outreach.

Moreover, Heather guided ASTR’s leadership in a candid, open, and sometimes difficult dialogue about our organization’s cultural climate, explicitly as experienced by underrepresented communities within ASTR. This conversation led us to pass new policies, change organizational structures, and develop systems of accountability and transparency aimed at creating and sustaining a truly inclusive organization. Heather’s attention to addressing organizational climate meaningfully effected real, concrete changes that will benefit all members of ASTR well into
the future.

As one ASTR officer noted, Heather has worked to the point of exhaustion, without ever allowing that exhaustion to impact her energy, enthusiasm, or diligence in working even more. Her unapologetic love for ASTR and eagerness to draw everyone into that affection has been infectious and inspiring to many of us.

Those of us continuing our work on the EC are excited to make Heather proud as we build upon her great leadership. Thank you, Heather. You have helped make ASTR a better organization in so many ways.